The Deepest Breath

Name: The Deepest Breath
Genre: Adventure, Documentary
Released: July 19, 2023
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Alessia Zecchini, Stephen Keenan

2023

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

See All

7.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.5	Your Score
7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Deepest Breath

Now Playing: The Deepest Breath

Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): July 19, 2023 | PG

Starring: Alessia Zecchini, Stephen Keenan

Summary: The Deepest Breath tells the story of champion freediver Alessia Zecchini and expert safety diver Stephen Keenan, who seemed fated to meet at the height of their careers. Raw underwater dive footage & extensive interviews bring viewers along for their emotional journey into the stunning, silent depths of the ocean, a breathtaking placeThe Deepest Breath tells the story of champion freediver Alessia Zecchini and expert safety diver Stephen Keenan, who seemed fated to meet at the height of their careers. Raw underwater dive footage & extensive interviews bring viewers along for their emotional journey into the stunning, silent depths of the ocean, a breathtaking place unseen by all but the fortunate few — where exhilarating accomplishments and unavoidable risks await.… Expand

Director: Laura McGann

Genre(s): Adventure, Documentary

Rating: PG

Runtime: 108 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Sheila O'Malley

Jul 19, 2023

Eloquent and moving, The Deepest Breath shows what it's like "down there," why people risk their lives to free fall into the blackness where it is so quiet, and why they also risk their lives to bring divers in trouble back up to the noisy surface. Read full review

The Guardian Lauren Mechling

Jul 10, 2023

Rounding out the pervasive sense of fear and ecstasy is a mesmerizing, sometimes mind-altering, depiction of the ocean’s depths. When one beholds Zecchini’s figure undulating to the sound of nothing, it’s all too clear that thrill-seeking is only part of the story. Read full review

Chris Vognar

Jul 19, 2023

The line between suspense and manipulation can be mighty fine. But The Deepest Breath walks it well. The filmmakers know they have a good story on their hands, and they shape it with sensitivity to the star-crossed divers and to the viewer. In the end it is well worth the plunge. Read full review

Martin Carr

Jan 28, 2023

Filled with awe-inspiring imagery, and a heartbreaking real-life tragedy, 'The Deepest Breath' is powerful stuff. Read full review

Guy Lodge

Feb 1, 2023

As a pure adrenaline-rush experience, however, The Deepest Breath is hard to argue with, coming closer than might seem possible to conveying the exhilaration and/or terror of descending further than the length of a football field into infinite aqua. Read full review

Simon Abrams

Jan 28, 2023

The retrospective nature of this documentary character study requires some creative liberties, but treating one of your two main characters like a special guest in her own movie suggests that telling a better story was unfortunately the top priority here. Read full review

Natalia Winkelman

Jul 20, 2023

We learn precious little about the personal lives of these impressive individuals. When it comes to what drove them, how they associated with others or how they dealt with danger, The Deepest Breath offers only surface-level observations. Read full review

SEE ALL 18 REVIEWS

Write a Review

Negative:

User Reviews

alejandro970

Aug 6, 2023

The excitement and danger of diving in a documentary that has enough to put the viewer in the shoes and scenario of the same protagonists. The action level may not be satisfactory for everyone, but that shouldn't be a problem.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alanpotter17

Jul 24, 2023

Um documentário inofensivo sobre um dos esportes mais perigosos existentes: o mergulho ao fundo do mar.
Seguindo os passos de Alessia Zecchini, mostrando o quanto ela se esforçou para quebrar recordes, a produção também vai inserindo, de forma sutil, elementos biográficos dela, como suaUm documentário inofensivo sobre um dos esportes mais perigosos existentes: o mergulho ao fundo do mar.
Seguindo os passos de Alessia Zecchini, mostrando o quanto ela se esforçou para quebrar recordes, a produção também vai inserindo, de forma sutil, elementos biográficos dela, como sua relação na escola, na família, mas nada que realmente tire o foco da prática esportiva.
É sempre bom dimensionar os acertos dos documentários referentes ao tom usado aos personagens retratados, pois geralmente caem no erro de execrá-los ou exaltá-los em demasia. Isso não ocorre aqui. Talvez o filme tenha algum deslize quando insere o segurança Stephen Keenan (ficou mais romantizado do que ela), e a relação do casal um pouco menos desenvolvida que o esperado, mas até que foi bom assim, pois acerta em cheio naquilo que mais importa.
Há um punhado de cenas tensas que são feitas literalmente para você prender o ar. O fato de eu ter assistido sem saber nenhuma ideia da história original, fez eu contemplar as surpresas como novidade, e isso fez um grande bem à imersão.
Contudo, o grande mérito mesmo é mostrar a realidade do esporte, não se trata de um documentário que fica enaltecendo a prática. Eu certamente irei passar longe de tal modalidade, mas pode ser que muitos se desbravem a querer desafiar os próprios limites.
Assim, por mais que retrate a vida de uma pessoa que quebrou recordes, é demasiadamente imparcial, quase um retrato jornalístico e técnico dos feitos.
Confesso que senti falta de algumas explicações médicas, o tal "apagamento momentâneo", por exemplo, é algo bizarro demais, os impactos nos pulmões, enfim, uma série de detalhes que, por outro lado, comprova que o documentário consegue instigar.
É de lamentar o final desastroso, mas também parabenizar a produção, por mais que seja um documentário simples e burocrático no modo como é filmado, a história tem um peso que consegue garantir-se.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

bertobellamy

Jul 20, 2023

There's a good story here about the dangers of freediving — Alessia Zecchini has established astonishing world records by submerging herself in the trickiest places — but the narrative is a little misleading and kind of cheats to arrive at an unearned "emotional" ending and the love storyThere's a good story here about the dangers of freediving — Alessia Zecchini has established astonishing world records by submerging herself in the trickiest places — but the narrative is a little misleading and kind of cheats to arrive at an unearned "emotional" ending and the love story around it is boring. Nevertheless, this very tense at times documentary gives insight into what professional freediving is all about.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 3 REVIEWS